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St. George Parish History
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St. George parish was established on Old Glenwood Road approximately two miles north of West Falls, New York in 1912. The land comprising the present parish was also known as Pine Tree because of an ancient pine tree at the Hayes Stage Coach Inn on Old Glenwood Road. Before the church was built, the Catholic people of West Falls and Jewettville traveled by horse and carriage to share in the mass at Nativity of Our Lord Church in Orchard Park.
In the spring of 1912, after consulting with the Catholics in the locality, Jacob Nuwer approached Father George Crimmins, the pastor of Nativity of Our Lord Church, about the possibility of starting a new parish in Jewettville. Together, they met with Bishop Charles Colton, head of the Buffalo of western New York, who required a petition signed by 50 Catholics from the community. Jacob Newar accomplished this task and permission to build a church was granted. Land on Old Glenwood Road was chosen and generously donated by August Hager and Adrian Metz.
The construction of the original church, now known as the Memorare Chapel, began in August. Thanks to the efforts of many community members, the building was completed in three months. The dedication took place on November 12, 1912, by Bishop Colton to St. George, honoring the patron saint of Father George Crimmins.
Father Michael Tobin was assigned to serve St. George and Our Lady of the Sacred heart Church in Colden. He resided in Colden and commuted by train between the mission churches; celebrating an early Mass at one church and a later Mass at the other on an alternating basis.
The Memorare Chapel of St. George parish stands as a tribute to the friendship and good will of a faith community working together to embrace the future with faith, hope and love.
If you would like to read the recorded history of St. George Parish, click here. (PDF file, Acrobat Reader required)
If you have additional updates to our history, please send us an email at [email protected].
St. George Church, 2010
(Memorare Chapel)